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BREATHING:
death in the catherdal
A party of six cavers, Phil Gettel, Lee Gettel, Jim Young, Joe Chiara, Dale Ibberson and Jay Herbeim, entered Breathing Cavefor a planned trip through the New Section to the waterfall. All but two of the party had been in the cave several times before. They proceeded slowly, exploring side passages, and reached the Cathedral Passage shortly before 2:00 PM on May 18, 1967.
The Cathedral Passage is a canyon 300 feet long, with a high ceiling. There are two routes: the lower route, usually involving crawling and wet passages, is most frequently used; the upper route involves "canyon hopping" and some chimneying as several connections to the lower levels, about 50 feet below, are crossed. The party chose the upper route.
The party began crossing the canyon past the "splattermite" climb. Four persons had already reached the end when Chiara started across. He was straddling the canyon, using ledges on both sides for footholds, when he apparently lost his footing and fell 50 feet to the lower level. The only sound he made was a brief "uh," at which Ibberson saw him falling. No one saw the cause of the fall. The time was 200 PM.
Young and Phil and Lee Gettel descended to Chiara and determined that he was badly injured. Herbeim, after asking cavers from another party at the surface to contact the Potomac Speleological Club fieldhouse and the Cave Rescue Communications Network, returned with a rope, a blanket and a plastic sheet.
Chiara's breathing became fainter and fainter until, at 4:15 PM, no chest movement or heart beat could be heard or felt. Artificial respiration efforts had no apparent effect. Lee Gettel and Ibberson had left the cave earlier. Some time after Chiara's apparent death the others left too with only Young remaining to direct the subsequent rescue parties.
Rescue groups started arriving shortly after 5:00 PM. The recovery started at 7:30 PM, and was completed by 11:45 PM.
The Bath County Coroner stated that death resulted from concussion, plus a possible broken neck and internal injuries. There were extensive other injuries, including cuts, fractured wrists and dislocated leg---AMERICAN CAVING ACCIDENTS, 1967-1970.
On March 16, 1968 seven cavers from the George Washington Student Grotto descended the 140-foot entrance pit of Elkhorn, using brake bars on 7/16-inch Goldline. At about 4:00 PM, Warren Bogardus, George Rabchevsky and Warren Broughton met at the rope to ascend. Bogardus was up in 30 minutes using two Jumar ascenders. Rabchevsky followed, but could not get over the first ledge, about 10 feet up. He decided to descend but could release only one ascender from the rope. Finally, he got into body rappel, but cut the sling to the stuck ascender, and descended.
Broughton then ascended using a Jumar for a seat sling and a prusik knot for his feet. He reached the top in 35 minutes. Meanwhile, Michael Tepping had hurt his knee when he slipped while jumping a stream in the lower cave passages. It became evident to the group that both Rabchevsky and Tepping would have to be pulled to the surface.
Paul Broughton next followed his brother Warren to the surface using a two-point prusik system. About half-way up, the lower polyethylene prusik snapped, but he safely switched to a spare manila set. The time was now 6:30 PM; it was cold and raining, and the three on the surface were soaked and shivering.
Rabchevsky was secured to the rope, along with the end of another 150-foot Goldline to be used to pull the main rope down again. The three on the surface tried to pull Rabchevsky up, but the rope caught in a crevice. Another attempt to pull Leonard LeRoy out (he being much lighter) was also unsuccessful. It was decided to go for help.
Bogardus and Warren Broughton drove to a telephone and called the Petersburg Fire Department. By 9:30 PM, about ten volunteers were at the cave. One of those in the cave had attempted to ascend using Bachmann knots, but this had failed. It was decided to simply pull the four to the surface. Warren Broughton rappelled in half way to provide commaunications and guide the rope. Connie Wong was pulled out, then various packs, followed by Tepping and LeRoy. Broughton was pulled to the surface on the end of the lower rope. By midnight, everybody was out of the cave. --AMERICAN CAVING ACCIDENTS, 1967--1970.
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